Rich Franklin Legacy Re-Visted: Where Is He Now After Liddell KO?
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 14, 2010 12:17 PM EDT
in News
Email
PrintWe had a topic on the site just after UFC 99 where Rich Franklin narrowly defeated Wanderlei Silva debating Rich Franklin's place among the all time UFC greats. Most people gave Franklin props in that he was always game, fought some tough guys and probably will be in the UFC hall of game. However, I want to look at it slightly differently now.
As mentioned he narrowly defeated Wanderlei Silva then pretty much got ran through against Vitor Belfort at UFC 103. He took some time off and then came back to knockout Chuck Liddell this past weekend. His performance against Liddell was gritty, standing in the pocket against one of MMA's best KO artists with a broken arm is stuff of legend. It's not the first time, as he fought with a broken had against David Loiseau for like three rounds back at UFC 58.
Franklin has beat a lot of people in his career(28-5) and only lost to the best of the best. However, two of his biggest wins have come against name opponents that are past their glory days in Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. He did defeat Yushin Okami back at UFC 72 who has maintained his ability to fight at a high level. He arguably beat Dan Henderson back at UFC 93. I think Franklin gives anyone out there a tough fight, but I doubt he beats any of the top guys at LHW which is pretty much what I said a year ago.
Since Franklin has beaten 'legends' like Chuck and Wandy while they were past their prime, how should that affect his stock in regards to the all time greats? Or should it...build with me...
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I say yes he's one of the greats because I'm a big fan of his,
and he’s a great representative for the sport also he finishes almost everyone he fights and has fought some of the greatest fighters ever. Also fuck that whole Wandy being past his prime shit Rich is like 3 years older than Wandy.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 12:33 PM EDT reply actions
Also fuck that whole Wandy being past his prime shit Rich is like 3 years older than Wandy.
but…look at all the fights Wandy has had…..not to mention he fought some heavyweights in there as well…
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 14, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I get the mileage thing for sure
Ohh damn I just checked his record I didn’t realize he had like 10 more fights than Franklin. I’ll tell you what I’ll hold that thought until after his fight with Akiyama.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Although past his prime years now, Rich can still give a fight to most ranked guys, in my opinion. I guess I look at it like this: In a world where Mark Coleman is a UFC Hall of Famer, there is no question that Rich Franklin should be.
hell, Rich is still probably the best middleweight out there besides Silva
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 14, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t really think Rich is past his prime at all…if you look at most of his fights, he hasn’t really taken a ton of damage…his losses are to Anderson Silva (x2), Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, and Dan Henderson…not exactly anything to be ashamed of….with that said though, Rich’s style and size is really not suited for LHW…while he can take out the less inept strikers, most of the elite LHW’s are all good strikers and most of the top guys (barring maybe Rampage) can deal with Rich’s speed….so I don’t think he has a title run in his future but he does have what it takes to knock off quite a few name value opponents.
MMA For Real Contributor
Yeah I would take him over Griffin anyday
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
did you see Rich and Forrest in the same room on TUF….Forrest looks like a giant next to him
MMA For Real Contributor
by Charles Walker on Jun 14, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I believe Forrest fought at heavyweight before. He walks around 240lbs. Rich said he can probaby get up to 220-235lb with solid muscle but at his age that would be difficult.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Jun 14, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think that would really be an issue,
Both of their stand up games are pretty similar, and I think it would be a wash on the mat as well but Franklin has power Forrest doesn’t. That’s why I would take Franklin everytime.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
i dunno
i could see Forrest grinding on him, Ace dont have that much power imo…
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 14, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Forrest wrestling isn't the best though...so.
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
Is Ace's?
last time i checked Forrest was bigger and can wrassle, s’all im saying :)
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 14, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Forrest has a pretty good Jujitsu game, I don't think he could out wrestle Franklin
Ace’s power I think would be enough to put Forrest away, maybe not a one hitter but he could put him out for sure. And I might be looking too far back but Rich could maintain top position and pound people with the best of them.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
that was at MW though wasn’t it?!
oh the horror!
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 14, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah,
but that doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t transfer over, I mean do you think Jardine has moe power than Franklin? I don’t know obviously he won’t be the heaviest hitter but he (T)KO’s a shit load of people.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 14, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
but it don't take much to knock out Forrest if you hit him right
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 14, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
i’ll be the first to knock Forrest’s chin, but at the same time it aint quite Liddellesque imo… and all i believe is that Ace dont have that power that would put away Franklin.
i mean, Griffin won the first round against Rashad and then capitulated….
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 15, 2010 5:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Quarry has a great chin and Rich put him out.
Ride the Tiger!
by doonerthesooner on Jun 15, 2010 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
he took some massive shots before that one that put him out though...
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 15, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
A very young sport.
I think one of the problems with talking about legacy and place in MMA history is that the sport is very young. At least the organized and marketed sport we see today is very young. Few people had access to the sport prior to 10 years ago. And even back during the start of the UFC, it was a pretty much a one discipline guy versus and different one discipline guy.
Because the sport, especially the current evolution of it, has such a limited history, it’s easy to talk about how would this guy do against one of the “legends” of the sport. In some cases, these legends are still fighting, maybe not at their prime, but still fighting.
What you don’t see in a sport like baseball is people debating if Greg Maddox is a great pitcher or hall of fame worthy because he never faced Reggie Jackson in his prime. Or say that Strasburg’s debut was great, but how would he have fared against Babe Ruth. The history is so long and the game has evolved so much, true comparisons can’t be made. Statistics give an appearance of true comparison, but it’s really not the case.
Think about Royce Gracie. During his prime, he was dominant. But even at his prime, how would he fare against someone like GSP, under today’s rules? The sport has changed so much in such a short time, it’s not a fair comparison. Gracie was 11 – 1 in his first 12 fights, but was he fighting guys out of as large a talent pool as champions today? I don’t think so. But he fought in the system that was available.
Rich Franklin had win streaks of 14 and 8 and won the Middleweight title. He fought the guys that were available to him. He’s probably past his prime, but still fighting and being competitive. He’s easily a hall of famer and, based on his record, should be considered one of the greats of the sport.
by FragglesHateKos on Jun 14, 2010 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
